Positive surgical margins during robotic radical prostatectomy: a contemporary analysis of risk factors

Abstract

The most important risk factors for a PSM after RARP are the preoperative PSA level, PSA density, pathological stage and Gleason grade. PSM rates for a surgeon in their initial experience can be comparable to that of a surgeon experienced in RARP. Using a stapling device to control the DVC does not appear to increase the risk of a PSM, although nerve-sparing increases the rates of PSM in extraprostatic prostate cancer.